Melissa Merritt

13-year-old Yara Gambirasio went missing in Italy one night after walking to a gym less than half a mile from her house. Her body was found three months later in a field just a few miles away. Investigators found male DNA on her body but couldn’t find a match. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Massimo Bossetti. The police were determined to find Yara's killer, and they began the most extensive DNA testing program in Italian history. It took three years and almost 20,000 DNA samples, but they eventually found Yara’s killer. But, it was the way they did it that makes this case so fascinating. They didn't get a hit from a database. They started with familial DNA and had to wade through the history of an affair that shook multiple families to the core.You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Aug 20221h 5min

Lionel Tate was 12 years old when he was charged with the murder of his six-year-old neighbor Tiffany Eunick. At the age of 14, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder. Lionel said that Tiffany was hurt as they were playing. But, experts testified that her injuries were consistent with someone who had fallen three stories.Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the bizarre story of Lionel Tate. Lionel Tate is believed to be one of the youngest Americans, if not the youngest, to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It later came out that Lionel's mother and his defense attorney were instrumental in him declining a plea agreement where he would have served only three years in a juvenile facility. This case reignited the debate on how the criminal justice system should try and sentence juveniles charged with serious crimes. You can support the show and find extra content at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Aug 20221h 18min

In September 1998, 10-year-old Anna Palmer was murdered outside her home in Salt Lake City after walking home from a friend’s house. There were reports of a strange man harassing young girls in her neighborhood, but no arrests were made. Over a decade later, advancements in DNA testing finally identified Anna’s killer, a dangerous criminal who was already in prison for another crime against a child. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss killer Matthew Breck. Breck was 19 years old when he murdered Anna Palmer in 1998, but he got away with it for over a decade. Skins cells under Anna's fingernails were finally matched to Breck, who was in prison on a 10-year-old sentence for a crime against a child under 16. As it turned out, Breck lived only a block from Anna back when she was killed, but police never even talked to him.You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Aug 20221h 12min

In part one of the Mary Keenan O’Connor case, we discussed Mary’s early life and the murder of 5-year-old Nancy Glenn. Mary confessed to accidentally hitting Nancy in a fit of rage, but she refused to sign the confession. She denied putting Nancy face down in a mud puddle. The prosecution argued that Mary lured Nancy out to the crime scene and deliberately held her down in the puddle. In this episode, we’ll discuss the verdict of Mary’s murder trial and the remainder of her life and crimes.Join Mike and Gibby as they finish up the Mary O'Connor story. People were shocked at the jury's verdict at Mary's trial. There were accusations of bad police work and juror misconduct. But, Mary was free to live her life, and she married and had children. 30 years later, Mary became embroiled in a murder mystery again when a wife and mother was murdered, and two young children were severely beaten. Could Mary O'Connor beat another murder wrap?You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 Aug 20221h 6min

Mary Keenan O’Connor is a lesser-known criminal, but her case made front-page headlines after 5-year-old Nancy Gleen was found face down in a mud puddle. Mary reportedly confessed to a number of people, including a detective, that she hit Nancy for eating berries and pestering her, but she was vague on some of the details. Join Mike and Gibby in part 1 of 2 of the case of Mary O'Connor. There were rumors that Mary O’Connor confessed to the murder in her sleep. This was quickly proven false, but the details of the crime that came out were shocking and disturbing to Philadelphia residents. In this episode, we will discuss the murder of 5-year-old Nancy Glenn, Mary’s confession, and her infamous murder trial. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1 Aug 20221h 12min

Olga Ruttschmidt and Helen Golay are two female serial killers who operated in California. At the time of their arrest in 2008, Helen Golay was 75, and Olga Rutterschmidt was 73. The two women preyed upon vulnerable homeless men. At first, they offered them help in the form of a place to stay and food. But, their only goal was to get these men to sign life insurance policies with them as the beneficiaries so that they could collect millions.Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Olga Ruttschmidt and Helen Golay. Olga and Helen are a rarity in the world of true crime, two elderly female serial killers working together. They viewed their targets as investments, often paying their way for years before killing their victims. During that time, they worked to gain their trust so that they would sign a life insurance policy. Then, the two would use their signature to take out many more.You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Juli 20221h 14min

On July 15th, 1976, a school bus driven by 55-year-old Frank Edward Ray, for Dairyland Elementary, in the school district of Chowchilla, California, was hijacked by three armed men. Ed Ray was driving 26 children, ranging in age from 5 to 14, home from a summer class trip to the Chowchilla Fairgrounds swimming pool.Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the Chowchilla Kidnapping case. 24-year-old Fred Woods and brothers 22-year-old Richard and 24-year-old James Schoenfeld were the kidnappers. They all came from wealthy families, but all had run into money difficulties. Their plan was to abduct a bus full of kids and ransom them for five million dollars. But, their plan went awry when Ed and the kids were able to escape from a makeshift bunker.You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Juli 20221h 9min

In July 1999 two best friends set off for a cross-country road trip together. After a camping trip in the New Mexico desert went horribly wrong, one of them didn’t survive. Raffi Kodikian told the park ranger who came to his rescue that he killed his best friend because he thought they were dying of dehydration. Investigators didn’t believe his story and charged him with murder. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Raffi Kodikian and the murder of David Coughlin. These two guys were the best of friends. Even investigators working for the prosecution said that when they interviewed people who knew them. Raffi always maintained that David asked Raffi to kill him. He also said the plan was for them to die together. The authorities had a hard time believing things played out as Raffi said they did but as one official said, "you don't get to kill someone in New Mexico even if they ask you to."You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation informationAn Emash Digital productionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Juli 20221h 13min